Beirne puts Longford to sword

KILDARE 1-18 LONGFORD 0-12

KILDARE advanced to the Leinster MFC semi-finals where they will face Wicklow after a convincing nine-point win over Longford in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park last night.

Kildare kicked three points in the opening two minutes, but Longford responded with a pointed free from Cian Dooner and a fine effort from Keelin McGann. Dooner was on target again for Longford with a free in the 12th minute but Kildare dominated the rest of the first half and were ahead by five at the break.

After Muiris Curtin fisted a goal chance wide just before the interval, Longford hit the ground running on the resumption, with five unanswered points as Darragh O’Connell levelled the game in the 36th minute.

However, Longford squandered chances to take the lead and Kildare were ahead again in the 44th minute with a point from Sam Morrissey. Alex Beirne got the game’s only goal to put Kildare ahead by four and end the game as a contest.

The visitors ended the game with three fine points in stoppage time.

SCORERS – Kildare: A Beirne 1-5, S Morrissey 0-4, A Kennedy 0-3, J Smyth 0-2 (2f), N Jackman, D Costello, T Browne, Muiris Curtin 0-1 each. Longford: C Dooner 0-5 (4f), E McCormack, K McGann 0-2 each, J Moran, D O’Connell, R Leonard (f) 0-1 each

KILDARE – J Ball; J Lynch, S Hill, J Hamill; N Jackman, K Kelliher, P McDermott; L Broderick, D Costello (S Morrissey 38); T Browne, A Beirne, M McGovern (M Kiely ht, (D Higgins 56)); M Curtin, A Kennedy, J Smyth.

LONGFORD – P Murray; D Moffett, D Ciglianio (M O’Neill 57), C Nolan; C Belton (C Farley 26), J Moran, P Dempsey; J Borland (A Quinn bc 48), R Prior (C Leonard 52); E Finneran, E McCormack, K McGann; R Leonard (C O’Nullain 43), D O’Connell, C Dooner (R Reilly 60).

REF – P Coyle (Meath)